EP1764855B1 - Nickel-metal hydride storage battery - Google Patents

Nickel-metal hydride storage battery Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1764855B1
EP1764855B1 EP05758113A EP05758113A EP1764855B1 EP 1764855 B1 EP1764855 B1 EP 1764855B1 EP 05758113 A EP05758113 A EP 05758113A EP 05758113 A EP05758113 A EP 05758113A EP 1764855 B1 EP1764855 B1 EP 1764855B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hydrogen
battery
nickel
case
metal hydride
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EP05758113A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1764855A4 (en
EP1764855A1 (en
Inventor
Katsunori PANASONIC EV ENERGY CO. LTD. KOMORI
Tomohiro PANASONIC EV ENERGY CO. LTD. MATSUURA
Shinji PANASONIC EV ENERGY CO. LTD. HAMADA
Toyohiko PANASONIC EV ENERGY CO. LTD. ETO
Yoshiyuki TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI K. NAKAMURA
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Toyota Motor Corp
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Toyota Motor Corp
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M12/00—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M12/04—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type
    • H01M12/06—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
    • H01M12/065—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type with one metallic and one gaseous electrode with plate-like electrodes or stacks of plate-like electrodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M10/24—Alkaline accumulators
    • H01M10/30—Nickel accumulators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
    • H01M50/30—Arrangements for facilitating escape of gases
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

  • the thin film membrane is permeable to hydrogen and preferably is selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyethylene, vinyl, metallized plastics and metals.
  • EP 0 118 609 describes alkaline manganese dioxide-zink cells, or alternatively proposes nickel-cadmium cells instead.
  • Example 2 US Patent 5,912,090 in Example 2 describes a cell stack assembled from electrodes, separators and electrolytic solution, where the center part of the periphery of each element cell was wrapped with a film having a selective vapor/liquid permeability, while upper and lower parts of the periphery of each element cell were sealed with a hot melt adhesive. Furthermore, the cell stack having the films and the hot melt adhesive was sealed with a heat shrinkable tube.
  • the film having a selective vapor/liquid permeability was made of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene film (Trade name: MICROTEX NTF 1026-NO1 available from NITTO DENKO Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 170 ⁇ m, a gas permeability of 0.2 cc/cm 2 .sec. (measured according to JIS P 8117), and a water resistance of 2 kg/cm 2 (measured according to JIS L1092A).
  • a porous polytetrafluoroethylene film (Trade name: MICROTEX NTF 1026-NO1 available from NITTO DENKO Co., Ltd.) having a thickness of 170 ⁇ m, a gas permeability of 0.2 cc/cm 2 .sec. (measured according to JIS P 8117), and a water resistance of 2 kg/cm 2 (measured according to JIS L1092A).
  • the battery pack of US Patent 5,912,090 had excellent cycling characteristics. This result indicates that the oxygen and hydrogen gasses moved outside the cell stacks through the film having a selective vapor/liquid permeability, and a reaction for converting oxygen and hydrogen gasses to water proceeded in other cells smoothly.
  • JP publication 05-325930 describes a safety valve for an alkaline storage battery, comprising an-opening-closure plate with a circular hole fixed together with a terminal plate with a circular hole to form a chamber of the safety valve.
  • a coil spring pressing an elastic valve body via an inelastic board with a circular hole, against the terminal plate.
  • the elastic valve body is connected to the inelastic board with adhesive.
  • the central portion of the elastic valve body that is not supported by the inelastic board is designed to be ruptured by excessive pressure of gases in a battery in case the valve element consisting of the elastic body (3) and the inelastic board (4) cannot move further (e.g. after falling down) to let the gases out.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery is normally designed to have a negative electrode capacity larger than a positive electrode capacity. Accordingly, the discharge capacity of the battery is regulated by the positive electrode capacity (hereinafter, referred to as a "positive electrode capacity regulation").
  • This positive electrode regulation makes it possible to suppress an increase in internal pressure during overcharging or overdischarging. It is to be noted that an excess capacity of a negative electrode available for charge is referred to as charge reserve and an excess capacity of the negative electrode available for discharge is referred to as discharge reserve.
  • the hydrogen absorbing alloy of a negative electrode tends to corrode due to repeated use, causing a side reaction that the hydride absorbing alloy will absorb hydrogen.
  • the hydrogen absorption amount of the hydrogen absorbing alloy gradually increases.
  • the discharge reserve of the negative electrode increases while the charge reserve decreases, leading to a rise in the internal pressure in the battery during charging. Long-term use will cause the charge reserve to run short, which results in the generation of a large amount of hydrogen gas or the like from the negative electrode, elevating the internal pressure in the battery in for example a fully charged state.
  • a safety valve will open to release hydrogen gas from the battery to suppress excessive rise in the internal pressure.
  • the released hydrogen gas was generated from the electrolyte, a decrease in amount of the electrolyte is caused, leading to very lowering of battery characteristics.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery having the metal case has problems as above with the lowering of battery characteristics resulting from long-term corrosion of the hydrogen absorbing alloy. In the case where such battery is used as a power source of an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle requiring a battery life of more than ten years, the above lowering of battery characteristics would be seriously problematic.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery having the resin case on the other hand, a small amount of hydrogen gas is allowed to continuously leak out by permeating through the resin case.
  • the hydrogen absorbing alloy of the negative electrode will release hydrogen according to the hydrogen leakage amount in order to keep balance of hydrogen partial pressure in the case. This decreases the discharge reserve of the negative electrode.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery is regulated by the negative electrode capacity (which means that the discharge capacity of the battery is regulated depending on the negative electrode capacity).
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has an object to provide a nickel-metal hydride storage battery capable of suppressing changes in discharge reserve and charge reserve of a negative electrode to thereby prevent lowering of battery characteristics for a long term.
  • the present invention provides a nickel-metal hydride storage battery according to the claims.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery of the present invention is arranged such that the hydrogen leak rate V1 ( ⁇ l/h/Ah) per unit of battery capacity at 60% SOC and a battery temperature of 45°C under an atmosphere of a reduced pressure of 10 kPa satisfies the relationship: 2 ⁇ V1 ⁇ 14.
  • the hydrogen leak rate V1 is determined in such range, the reducing amount of hydrogen resulting from leakage of hydrogen gas out of the battery and the increasing amount of hydrogen in the battery resulting from corrosion of the hydrogen absorbing alloy of the negative electrode can be kept in balance. This makes it possible to suppress changes in charge reserve and discharge reserve of the negative electrode, thereby preventing lowering of battery characteristics for a long term.
  • the battery main part is disposed in the case for providing a battery function and includes for example an electrode, a separator, an electrolyte, and others.
  • the SOC stands for State of Charge.
  • the hydrogen leak rate V1 ( ⁇ l/h/Ah) satisfies a relationship: 3.5 ⁇ V1 ⁇ 10.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery of the present invention is arranged such that the hydrogen leak rate V1 ( ⁇ l/h/Ah) satisfies the relationship: 3.5 ⁇ V1 ⁇ 10. Determining the hydrogen leak rate V1 in such range makes it possible to suppress changes in charge reserve and discharge reserve of the negative electrode and prevent the battery characteristics from lowering for a longer term.
  • the present invention provides a nickel-metal hydride storage battery comprising: a battery main part; and a case which houses the battery main part; wherein the battery is adapted to provide, after charging and discharging and charged to 60% SOC, a hydrogen leak rate V2 ( ⁇ l/h/cm 3 ) per unit of battery volume that satisfies a relationship: 0.2 ⁇ V2 ⁇ 1.8 under an atmosphere at a battery temperature of 45°C, and a reduced pressure of 10 kPa.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery of the present invention is arranged such that the hydrogen leak rate V2 ( ⁇ l/h/cm 3 ) per unit of battery volume at 60% SOC, a battery temperature of 45°C under an atmosphere of a reduced pressure of 10 kPa satisfies the relationship: 0.2 ⁇ V2 ⁇ 1.8.
  • V2 hydrogen leak rate
  • the hydrogen leak rate V2 is determined in such range, the decreasing amount of hydrogen resulting from leakage of hydrogen gas out of the battery and the increasing amount of hydrogen in the battery resulting from corrosion of the hydrogen absorbing alloy of the negative electrode can be kept in balance. This makes it possible to suppress changes in charge reserve and discharge reserve of the negative electrode, thereby preventing lowering of battery characteristics for a long term.
  • the battery volume represents the inner volume of the case. Further, the battery main part is disposed in the case for providing a battery function and includes for example an electrode, a separator, an electrolyte, and others.
  • the SOC stands for State of Charge.
  • the hydrogen leak rate V2 ( ⁇ l/h/cm 3 ) satisfies a relationship: 0.4 ⁇ V2 ⁇ 1.1.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery of the present invention is arranged such that the hydrogen leak rate V2 ( ⁇ l/h/cm 3 ) satisfies the relationship: 0.4 ⁇ V 2 ⁇ 1.1. Determining the hydrogen leak rate V2 in such range makes it possible to suppress changes in charge reserve and discharge reserve of the negative electrode and thus prevent the battery characteristics from lowering for a longer term.
  • the case includes a metal wall made of metal, and the area of the metal wall forming an outer surface of the case exceeds 90% of a total area of the outer surface of the case.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery of the present invention is arranged such that the case includes the metal wall in an area of more than 90% of the total area of the outer surface of the case.
  • Such case made of metal in an area more than 90% can attain an excellent cooling property of the battery to prevent excessive rise in battery temperature.
  • the hydrogen leak rate V1 or V2 is determined at a value in a predetermined range as described above. Even when the case is principally made of metal as above, therefore, changes in discharge reserve and charge reserve of the negative electrode can be suppressed and thus the lowering of the battery characteristics can be prevented for a long term.
  • the case is preferably made of metal.
  • the case is made of metal. This makes it possible to achieve an excellent cooling property of the battery, preventing excessive rise in battery temperature.
  • the hydrogen leak rate V1 or V2 is determined at a value in a predetermined range as described above. Even when the case is made of metal, therefore, changes in discharge reserve and charge reserve of the negative electrode can be suppressed and thus the lowering of the battery characteristics can be prevented for a long term.
  • the above nickel-metal hydride storage battery further comprises a hydrogen leakage device for allowing hydrogen gas in the case to leak out of the battery.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery of the present invention includes the hydrogen leakage device for allowing hydrogen gas to leak from the case to the outside of the battery. Controlling the hydrogen leak rate by the hydrogen leakage device can adjust the hydrogen leak rate of the entire battery. In other words, when the hydrogen leak rate of the hydrogen leakage device is controlled appropriately, the hydrogen leak rate V1 ( ⁇ l/h/Ah) of the entire battery can be adjusted to 2 ⁇ V1 ⁇ 14. Alternatively, when the hydrogen leak rate of the hydrogen leakage device is controlled appropriately, the hydrogen leak rate V2 ( ⁇ l/h/cm 3 ) of the entire battery can be adjusted to 0.2 ⁇ V2 ⁇ 1.8. Consequently, changes in discharge reserve and charge reserve of the negative electrode can be suppressed and thus the lowering of the battery characteristics can be prevented for a long term.
  • the hydrogen leakage device may include for example a structure containing hydrogen permeable resin (rubber). Since the nickel-metal hydride storage battery uses the alkaline electrolyte, in particular, a hydrogen permeable resin (rubber) (e.g. EPDM) having a high resistance to alkali is preferably adopted.
  • This hydrogen leakage device may be provided independently from the safety valve device or the safety valve device may also be used as the hydrogen leakage device. Alternatively, the hydrogen leakage device may be independently provided and the safety valve device may also be used as the hydrogen leakage device.
  • the above nickel-metal hydride storage battery further comprises a safety valve device for releasing gas from the case when an internal pressure in the case exceeds a predetermined value to prevent excessive rise in the internal pressure in the case, and the safety vale device is also used as the hydrogen leakage device.
  • the safety valve device is also used as the hydrogen leakage device.
  • the safety valve device has an excessive pressure preventing function for preventing excessive rise in inner pressure in the case and also a hydrogen leakage function for allowing hydrogen gas in the case to leak out of the battery. Therefore, controlling the hydrogen leak rate with the safety valve device can adjust the hydrogen leak rate of the entire battery.
  • a configuration that the safety valve device is also used as the hydrogen leakage device may include a configuration that the valve member is adapted to have the hydrogen leakage function.
  • the valve member is preferably made of a hydrogen permeable material (e.g. hydrogen permeable rubber) to allow hydrogen gas to permeate through the valve member to the outside. Since the nickel-metal hydride storage battery uses the alkaline electrolyte, in particular, a hydrogen permeable resin (rubber) (e.g. EPDM) having a high resistance to alkali is preferably adopted.
  • the valve member may be constituted of a plurality of components (for example a valve member constituted of a metal component and a rubber component integrally made by insert molding) so that hydrogen can leak out through between the constituent parts (e.g. the metal component and the rubber component).
  • a nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100 in Embodiment 1 is, as shown in Fig. 1 , a rectangular sealed nickel-metal hydride storage battery including a case 102 provided with a sealing cover 120 and a battery casing 130, a safety valve device 101, and an electrode plate group 150 and an electrolyte (not shown) housed in the case 102 (the battery casing 130).
  • the electrode plate group 150 includes positive electrodes 151, negative electrodes 152, and bag-shaped separators 153.
  • the positive electrodes 151 are inserted one in each bag-shaped separator 153.
  • the positive electrodes 151 inserted in the separators 153 and the negative electrodes 152 are alternately arranged. Those positive electrodes 151 and negative electrodes 152 are collected to be connected to a positive terminal and a negative terminal, not shown in the figure, respectively.
  • Each of the nickel-metal hydride storage batteries in the embodiments (Embodiments 1 to 4) of the present invention is designed to have a positive electrode capacity of 6.5 Ah and a negative electrode capacity of 11.0 Ah.
  • each of the nickel-metal hydride storage batteries in the embodiments (Embodiments 1 to 4) of the present invention has a battery capacity of 6.5 Ah in a positive electrode regulation.
  • the positive electrode 151 may be formed of for example an electrode plate comprising an active material containing nickel hydroxide and an active material carrier such as foamed nickel.
  • the negative electrode 152 may be formed of for example an electrode plate containing a hydride absorbing alloy as a negative electrode constituting material.
  • the separator 153 may be formed of for example non-woven fabric made of synthetic fibers subjected to a hydrophilic treatment.
  • the electrolyte may include for example an alkaline solution having a specific gravity of 1.2 to 1.4 and containing KOH.
  • the battery casing 130 is made of metal (specifically, a nickel-plated steel plate) formed in a rectangular box shape.
  • the sealing cover 120 is made of metal (specifically, a nickel-plated steel plate) formed in almost flat rectangular shape.
  • the sealing cover 120 has a gas release hole 122 through which the inside of the case 102 is communicated with the outside thereof as shown in Fig. 2 .
  • This sealing cover 120 is placed on an open end 131 of the battery casing 130 and welded thereto over its entire circumference, closing an opening 132 of the battery casing 130. With this configuration, the sealing cover 120 and the battery casing 130 are integrally connected with no gap therebetween to form the case 102.
  • the case 102 is entirely made of metal (only a metal wall), the battery can have an excellent cooling property to prevent excessive increase in temperature of the battery.
  • the case is designed to have an inside dimension of 42 (mm) x 15 (mm) x 85 (mm), that is, an inner volume of 53.6 (cm 3 ).
  • the safety valve device 101 has a valve member 110, a valve cap 170, a coil spring 160, a base plate 180, and a safety valve case 140, as shown in Fig. 2 .
  • the base plate 180 is made of metal (specifically, a nickel-plated steel plate) formed in an annular flat shape, which is fixed on an outer surface 127 of the sealing cover 120.
  • the valve cap 170 is made of metal (specifically, a nickel-plated steel plate) provided with a substantially circular flange 171, a cylindrical peripheral wall 172, and a disk-shaped top wall 174 formed with a through hole 174b.
  • the valve member 110 is made of rubber (specifically, EPDM) and includes a substantially circular flange 111, a cylindrical peripheral wall 112, and a disk-shaped top wall 114.
  • the valve member 110 is of an outer shape matching an inner surface 170b of the valve cap 170.
  • This valve member 110 fitted in the valve cap 170 is disposed on the outer surface 127 of the sealing cover 120 and inside the base plate 180.
  • the valve member 110 is formed with a wall thickness of 0.5 mm.
  • the safety valve case 140 is made of metal (specifically, a nickel-plated steel plate) formed in a closed-end, substantially cylindrical shape.
  • a top wall 144 of this safety valve case 140 is formed with a through hole 144b having a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the peripheral wall 172 of the valve cap 170.
  • This safety valve case 140 is fixed on the base plate 180.
  • the coil spring 160 is of a spiral shape having a downwardly reduced diameter in Fig. 2 . This coil spring 160 is placed in a compressed state in the safety valve case 140 in such a way that a small-diameter portion 161 is placed on the flange 171 of the valve cap 170 while a large-diameter portion 162 is pressed downwardly in Fig.
  • the above safety valve device 101 is configured to release gas (hydrogen gas and the like) from the case 102 to the outside when the internal pressure in the case 102 exceeds a predetermined value, to prevent excessive rise in the internal pressure in the case 102.
  • gas hydrogen gas and the like
  • the gas in the case 102 presses up the valve cap 170 together with the valve member 110 in Fig. 2 . This pressing force causes the coil spring 160 to be further compressed.
  • the sealing surface 115 of the valve member 110 is separated from the outer surface 127 of the sealing cover 120, allowing the gas in the case 102 to be released to the outside of the valve member 110 and then to the outside of the battery through the through hole 144b of the top wall 144 of the safety valve case 140. As above, the excessive rise in the internal pressure in the case 102 can be prevented.
  • the valve member 110 is formed of a thin wall made of rubber (EPDM) as shown in Fig. 2 . Further, the valve member is formed in a closed-end, substantially cylindrical shape to provide a large contact area (a permeable area) with respect to hydrogen gas in the case 102.
  • EPDM rubber
  • the safety valve device 101 has a hydrogen leakage function to allow the hydrogen gas in the case 102 to gradually leak out of the battery, in addition to an excessive-pressure preventing function to prevent excessive rise in the internal pressure in the case 102.
  • each safety valve device has the hydrogen leakage function to allow the hydrogen gas in the case to permeate through the valve member to leak out of the battery as mentioned in Embodiment 1.
  • the valve member may be designed variously to have different thickness, shapes, etc. to control the amount of the hydrogen gas in the case 102 to be allowed to permeate through the valve member per unit time (i.e., the hydrogen permeation rate of the valve member) as the details of Embodiments 2 to 4 will be mentioned later.
  • the safety valve device is arranged to regulate a hydrogen leak rate at which the hydrogen gas in the case 102 is allowed to leak out of the battery.
  • the hydrogen leak rate of the entire battery can be controlled.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100 in Embodiment 1 can be manufactured in the following manner.
  • the positive electrodes 151 are put one in each of a plurality of bag-shaped separators 153.
  • the plurality of separators 153 in each of which the positive electrode 151 is inserted and the plurality of negative electrodes 152 are alternately arranged to form the electrode plate group 150 (see Fig. 1 ).
  • this electrode plate group 150 is disposed in the battery casing 130 and then the positive electrodes 151 are connected to the positive terminal not shown through lead wires and the negative electrodes 152 are connected to the negative terminal not shown through lead wires.
  • the sealing cover 120 separately prepared is placed on the open end 131 of the battery casing 130 and welded thereto over the entire circumference, closing the opening 132 of the battery casing 130 (see Fig. 2 ).
  • the sealing cover 120 and the battery casing 130 are assembled into the integral case 102 with no gap. Then, an alkaline aqueous solution having a specific gravity of about 1.3 is injected as an electrolyte into the case 102 through the release hole 122 of the sealing cover 120.
  • valve element 110 is inserted in the valve cap 170.
  • the coil spring 160 is put in the safety valve case 140 so that the large-diameter portion 162 of the coil spring 160 faces the top wall 144 of the safety valve case 140.
  • the valve cap 170 with the valve member 110 being fitted therein is incorporated into the safety valve case 140 so that the flange 171 of the sheathing member 170 is held in contact with the small-diameter portion 161 of the coil spring 160.
  • the base plate 180 is then fixed to the flange 148 of the safety valve case 140 by laser welding. Thus, the safety valve device 101 is produced.
  • This safety valve deice 101 is placed on the outer surface 127 of the sealing cover 120 so that the safety valve device 101 is axially aligned with the release hole 122, and the safety valve deice 101 is fixed to the sealing cover 120 (the case 102) by laser welding.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100 in Embodiment 1 can be manufactured.
  • the following explanation will be made on a nickel-metal hydride storage battery 200 in Embodiment 2, referring to Figs. 3 and 4 .
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 200 in Embodiment 2 is different in the shape of a valve element from the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100 in Embodiment 1 and similar thereto in other parts or components.
  • a valve member 210 in Embodiment 2 is different in the shapes of a side wall and a top wall (see Figs. 3 and 4 ) from the valve member 110 in Embodiment 1 (see Fig. 2 ).
  • the peripheral wall 112 of the valve member 110 in Embodiment 1 is of an annular shape having a flat outer periphery
  • a peripheral wall 212 of the valve member 210 in Embodiment 2 has a corrugated outer periphery with a plurality of protruding portions 212b and recessed portions 212c which are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction as shown in Fig. 4 .
  • the valve member 210 in Embodiment 2 On the top wall 214 of the valve member 210 in Embodiment 2, three raised portions 214b are provided, circumferentially spaced at regular intervals, as shown in Fig. 4 .
  • the part of the top wall 214 other than the raised portions 214b is referred to as a thin-walled portion 214c.
  • the thickness of the recessed portion 212c of the peripheral wall 212 and the thickness of the thin-walled portion 214c of the top wall 214 are 0.3 mm respectively, thinner than the thickness (0.5 mm) of the valve member 110 in Embodiment 1. Accordingly, the valve member 210 in Embodiment 2 allows hydrogen gas to more easily permeate therethrough as compared with the valve member 110 in Embodiment 1.
  • the above valve member 210 is fitted in the valve cap 170 (see Fig. 3 ) as in Embodiment 1.
  • the peripheral wall 212 of the valve member 210 is formed in the corrugated shape as mentioned above.
  • the protruding portions 212b are therefore brought into contact with an inner surface 170b of the valve cap 170. Accordingly gaps D can be generated between the recessed portions 212c and the inner surface 170b of the valve cap 170.
  • gaps E can be generated between the thin-walled portion 214c of the top wall 214 and the inner surface 170b of the valve cap 170. This allows the hydrogen gas having permeated through the valve member 210 to pass through the gaps D and E to smoothly leak out of the battery through the through hole 174b of the top wall 174 of the valve cap 170.
  • the hydrogen gas in the case 102 can leak out of the battery more smoothly than in the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100 in Embodiment 1.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 200 in Embodiment 2 can provide a higher leak rate of hydrogen gas in the case 102 to be allowed to leak out of the battery than in the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100 in Embodiment 1.
  • This nickel-metal hydride storage battery 300 in Embodiment 3 is different in the shape of a valve member (specifically, the thickness) from the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 200 in Embodiment 2 and similar thereto in other parts or components.
  • a valve member 310 in Embodiment 3 includes, as in Embodiment 2, a peripheral wall 312 having a corrugated outer periphery with a plurality of protruding portions 312b and recessed portions 312c (see Fig. 4 ). Further, as in Embodiment 2, a top wall 314 of the valve member 310 is provided with three raised portions 314b. The part of the top wall 314 other than the raised portions 314b is referred to as a thin-walled portion 314c.
  • the thickness of the recessed portion 312c of the peripheral wall 312 and the thickness of the thin-walled portion 314c of the top wall 314 are 0.2 mm respectively, thinner than the thickness (0.3 mm) of the valve member 210 in Embodiment 2. Accordingly, the valve member 310 in Embodiment 3 allows hydrogen gas to more easily permeate therethrough as compared with the valve member 210 in Embodiment 2.
  • valve member 310 is fitted in the valve cap 170 in the same manner as in Embodiment 2, generating gaps D between the recessed portions 212c of the peripheral wall 312 and the inner surface 170b of the valve cap 170 and gaps E between the thin-walled portion 314c of the top wall 314 and the inner surface 170b of the valve cap 170 (see Fig. 5 ).
  • the valve member 310 in Embodiment 3 is thinner than the valve member 210 in Embodiment 2, thus providing larger gaps D and E than those in Embodiment 2. This allows the hydrogen gas having permeated through the valve member 310 to pass through the gaps D and E to more smoothly leak out of the battery through the through hole 174b of the top wall 174 of the valve cap 170.
  • the hydrogen gas in the case 102 can leak out of the battery more smoothly than in the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 200 in Embodiment 2.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 300 in Embodiment 3 can provide a higher leak rate of hydrogen gas in the case 102 to be allowed to leak out of the battery than in the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 200 in Embodiment 2.
  • This nickel-metal hydride storage battery 400 in Embodiment 4 is different in the shape of a safety valve device (specifically, the diameters of the valve member, the valve cap, and others are larger) from the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 300 in Embodiment 3 and similar thereto in other parts or components.
  • a valve member 410 in Embodiment 4 includes, as in Embodiment 3, a peripheral wall 412 having a corrugated outer periphery with a plurality of protruding portions 412b and recessed portions 412c (see Fig. 6 ). Further, as in Embodiment 3, a top wall 414 of the valve member 410 is provided with three raised portions 414b. The part of the top wall 414 other than the raised portions 414b is referred to as a thin-walled portion 414c.
  • the thickness of the recessed portion 412c of the peripheral wall 412 and the thickness of the thin-walled portion 414c of the top wall 414 are 0.2 mm respectively, equal to the thickness of those of the valve member 310 in Embodiment 3.
  • the valve member 410 in Embodiment 4 has a larger diameter than the valve member 310 in Embodiment 3 to provide a larger contact area (a permeable area) with respect to hydrogen gas.
  • Such valve member 410 in Embodiment 4 allows the hydrogen gas to permeate therethrough more smoothly than the valve member 310 in Embodiment 3.
  • the above valve member 410 is fitted in a valve cap 470 as in Embodiment 3, generating gaps D between the recessed portions 412c of the peripheral wall 412 and an inner surface 470b of the valve cap 470 and gaps E between the thin-walled portion 414c of the top wall 414 and the inner surface 470b of the valve cap 470 (see Fig. 6 ).
  • This allows the hydrogen gas having permeated through the valve member 310 to pass through the gaps D and E to smoothly leak out of the battery through a through hole 474b of the top wall 474 of the valve cap 470 in the same manner as in Embodiment 3.
  • the valve member 410 is lager in diameter than the valve member 310 in Embodiment 3, providing a larger contact area (a permeable area). Accordingly, the hydrogen gas in the case 102 can leak out of the battery more smoothly than in the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 300 in Embodiment 3.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 400 in Embodiment 4 can provide a higher leak rate of hydrogen gas in the case to be allowed to leak out of the battery than in the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 300 in Embodiment 3.
  • each safety valve device 100 to 400 has the hydrogen leakage function to allow the hydrogen gas in the case 102 to permeate through each valve member 110 to 410 to leak out of the battery.
  • the safety valve devices can provide different hydrogen leak rates. Consequently, in the nickel-metal hydride storage battery of the present invention, therefore, the safety valve device is arranged to regulate the leak rate of hydrogen gas in the case 102 to be allowed to leak out of the battery. Thus, the hydrogen leak rate of the entire battery can be controlled.
  • This nickel-metal hydride storage battery 700 is different in only a safety valve device from the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100 in Embodiment 1 and similar thereto in other parts or components.
  • a safety valve device 701 in this Comparative Embodiment 1 is a conventional safety valve device, which includes a valve member 710 and a safety valve case 740 as shown in Fig. 15 .
  • the valve member 710 is made of rubber (specifically, EPDM) and has a substantially cylindrical shape. This valve member 710 is disposed on an outer surface 127 of a sealing cover 120, closing a gas release hole 122 formed in the sealing cover 120.
  • the safety valve case 740 is made of metal (specifically, a nickel-plated steel plate) formed in a closed-end, substantially cylindrical shape including a flange 748.
  • This safety valve case 740 has a plurality of rectangular through holes 742b formed in a peripheral wall 742.
  • the flange 748 of the safety valve case 740 is fixed to the sealing case 120 by laser welding while the valve member 710 is held down in Fig. 15 .
  • a sealing surface 715 of the valve member 710 is held in close contact with the outer surface 127 of the sealing cover 120 with no gap therebetween, closing the gas release hole 122.
  • This nickel-metal hydride storage battery 800 is different in the material of a case and a safety valve device from the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100 in Embodiment 1 and similar thereto in other parts or components.
  • a case 802 in Comparative Embodiment 2 is made of resin (e.g. a polymer alloy of PP and PPE).
  • resin e.g. a polymer alloy of PP and PPE.
  • the case is of an inside dimension of 42 (mm) x 15 (mm) x 85 (mm), that is, an inner volume of 53.6 (cm 3 ).
  • a safety valve device 801 in Comparative Embodiment 2 is a similar product to a safety valve device of a nickel-metal hydride storage battery disclosed in Jpn. unexamined patent publication 2001-110388.
  • this safety valve device 801 has a valve case 825, a valve element 831, and a valve lid 832.
  • the valve case 825 is of a closed-end, substantially cylindrical shape, formed with a gas release hole 826 in the center of the bottom and a circumferential projection 827 around this gas release hole 826.
  • This valve case 825 is fitted and welded in a stepped cylindrical recess 824 formed in the upper wall of a cover 820 of the case 802.
  • the valve element 831 includes a sealing part 828, an elastic part 830, and a rigid part 829 supporting both parts.
  • This valve element 831 is inserted in the valve case 825 so that the sealing part 828 is held in contact with the projection 827.
  • the valve lid 832 has release ports 833 through which gas will be released and a joint 834 to be connected with a discharge tube.
  • This valve lid 832 is fitted on an upper open end of the valve case 825 by welding. This elastically presses the elastic part 830 of the valve element 831 downwardly in Fig. 16 to bring the sealing part 828 into pressure-contact with the projection 827 of the valve case 825, thus closing the gas release hole 826.
  • the hydrogen leakage amount was measured on six samples S; the nickel-metal hydride batteries 100 to 400 in Embodiments 1 to 4 and the nickel-metal hydride batteries 700 and 800 in Comparative Embodiments 1 and 2. Those six samples S has been activated in advance by charging and discharging and charged to 60% SOC (State of Charge). The measurement of hydrogen leakage amount of the six samples S was performed using a measurement system disclosed in Jpn. unexamined patent publication 2001-236986. Each of the samples S has a capacity of 6.5 Ah at 100% SOC.
  • the measurement system 1 includes a sealed container 3, a vacuum discharge pipe 4 connected to this container 3, and an air release port 5 provided with an opening/closing valve 6, as shown in Fig. 14 .
  • a barometer 7 an opening/closing valve 8
  • a vacuum pump 9 a changeover valve 10
  • a hydrogen concentration sensor 11 are arranged in this order from the sealed container 3 side.
  • the changeover valve 10 is configured to be switchable among a position for connecting an outlet of the vacuum pump 9 to the air release port 12, a position for connecting the outlet of the vacuum pump 9 to the hydrogen concentration sensor 11, and a position for connecting the air release port 12 to the hydrogen concentration sensor 11.
  • an infrared heater not shown is disposed to heat a sample S placed in the sealed container 3 to increase the temperature thereof.
  • the changeover valve 10 of the measurement system 1 is switched to the position for bringing the air release port 12 into communication with the hydrogen concentration sensor 11.
  • the concentration of hydrogen in the air is measured and its measured value is regarded as an atmospheric hydrogen concentration b.
  • a sample S e.g. the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100
  • the opening/closing valve 6 of the air release port 5 is closed.
  • the sample S placed in the sealed container 3 is heated to a temperature of 45°C.
  • the opening/closing 8 of the vacuum discharge pipe 4 is then opened.
  • the changeover valve 10 is switched to the position for bringing the outlet of the vacuum pump 9 into communication with the air release port 12 and then the vacuum pump 9 is actuated to reduce the pressure in the sealed container 3 to 10 kPa.
  • the sealed container 3 is kept at 10 kPa for 15 min. Then, the changeover valve 10 is switched to the position for bringing the outlet of the vacuum pump 9 into communication with the hydrogen concentration sensor 11. This allows the gas in the sealed container 3 to flow in the hydrogen concentration sensor 11 to measure the hydrogen concentration in the sealed container 3. This measured value is regarded as an in-container hydrogen concentration c. Subsequently, a hydrogen leakage amount M ( ⁇ l) of the sample S is calculated based on a difference between the atmospheric hydrogen concentration b and the in-container hydrogen concentration c. Thus, a hydrogen leak rate V1 ( ⁇ l/h/Ah) and a hydrogen leak rate V2 ( ⁇ l/h/cm 3 ) of each of the six samples S were calculated based on the hydrogen leakage amount M ( ⁇ l) calculated as above.
  • the hydrogen leak rate V1 ( ⁇ l/h/Ah) is a value obtained by calculating the hydrogen leakage amount per one hour based on the hydrogen leakage amount M ( ⁇ l) and dividing the calculated value by a battery capacity of 6.5 Ah.
  • the hydrogen leak rate V2 ( ⁇ l/h/cm 3 ) is a value obtained by calculating the hydrogen leakage amount per one hour based on the hydrogen leakage amount M ( ⁇ l) and dividing the calculated value by an inner volume of the case (a concrete example is 53.6 cm 3 ). This result is shown in Table 1.
  • Embodiment 1 Hydrogen permeation rate (45°C, 60% SOC) V1 ( ⁇ l//h/Ah) V2 ( ⁇ l/h/cm 3 ) Embodiment 1 2.00 0.24 Embodiment 2 3.66 0.44 Embodiment 3 9.15 1.1 Embodiment 4 13.7 1.7 Comparative 1 Embodiment 1 0.97 0.12 Comparative Embodiment 2 18.3 2.2
  • V1 ( ⁇ l/h/Ah) 0.97
  • the valve member 710 is placed on the outer surface 127 of the sealing cover 120 to close the gas release hole 122 (see Fig. 15 ).
  • the valve member 710 only has the contact area (the permeable area) with respect to the hydrogen gas in the case 102, as small as the open area of the gas release hole 122, and the hydrogen gas in the case 102 could not sufficiently permeate through the valve member 710.
  • each of the valve members 110 to 410 is formed in a closed-end, substantially cylindrical shape providing the large contact area (the permeable area) with respect to the gas in the case 102 (see Figs. 2 to 6 ).
  • the hydrogen leak rates V1 and V2 are larger in this order. This is conceivably because, in the order of Embodiments 1 to 4, the hydrogen gas in the case 102 is allowed to more easily leak out of the battery for the following reason.
  • the valve member 110 is arranged in close contact with the valve cap 170 (see Fig. 2 ).
  • the valve member 210 includes the peripheral wall 212 having a corrugated outer surface, providing the gaps D between the peripheral wall 212 and the inner surface 170b of the valve cap 170 (see Fig. 3 ).
  • the valve member 210 includes the top wall 214 having the raised portions 214b, providing the gap E between the top wall 214 and the inner surface 170b of the valve cap 170.
  • the hydrogen gas having permeated through the valve member 210 is allowed to pass through the gaps D and E and thus smoothly leak out of the battery through the through hole 174b of the top wall 174 of the valve cap 170. Consequently, the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 200 in Embodiment 2 allows easier leakage of the hydrogen gas from the case 102 to the outside of the battery than the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 100 in Embodiment 1.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 200 in Embodiment 2 and the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 300 in Embodiment 3 are compared.
  • the valve member 310 is designed to be smaller in thickness than the valve member 210 in Embodiment 2, thus providing larger gaps D and E than those in Embodiment 2. This makes it possible to increase the permeation rate of hydrogen gas to be allowed to permeate through the valve member in Embodiment 3 than in Embodiment 2 and allow the hydrogen gas having permeated through the valve member 310 to pass through the gaps D and E to more smoothly leak out of the battery through the through hole 174b of the top wall 174 of the valve cap 170 than in Embodiment 2.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 300 in Embodiment 3 allows the hydrogen gas in the case 102 to more easily leak out of the battery than the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 200 in Embodiment 2.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 300 in Embodiment 3 and the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 400 in Embodiment 4 are compared. Those batteries are identical in the thickness of the valve members and the dimension of the gaps D and E. In Embodiment 4, however, the valve member 410 is designed to be larger in diameter than the valve member 310 in Embodiment 3, providing a larger contact area (a permeable area) with respect to hydrogen gas. Accordingly, the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 400 in Embodiment 4 allows easier leakage of hydrogen gas from the case 102 to the outside of the battery than the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 300 in Embodiment 3.
  • the case 802 is made of resin (e.g. a polymer alloy of PP and PPE). It is specifically conceivable that, since the resin such as the polymer alloy of PP and PPE has higher hydrogen permeability than metal, the hydrogen gas in the case 802 was made to directly permeate through the case 802 to the outside.
  • the discharge reserve capacity remaining after a storage test was measured on six samples S; the nickel-metal hydride batteries 100 to 400 in Embodiments 1 to 4 and the nickel-metal hydride batteries 700 and 800 in Comparative Embodiments 1 and 2.
  • the six samples S were prepared, two for each sample, providing two pairs of the six samples S. Each sample S was charged to 80% SOC.
  • the first pair of six samples S was allowed to stand in a temperature-controlled chamber at 65°C for three months and the second pair of six samples S was allowed to stand therein for six months.
  • the reason why the temperature of the temperature-controlled chamber was set at a relatively high is to quickly cause the corrosion of the hydrogen absorbing alloy of the negative electrode and also increase the hydrogen leakage amount.
  • each battery was fully discharged (0% SOC) and then charged again to 80% SOC every one month.
  • Discharge reserve capacity Capacity discharged by the time the electric potential of the negative electrode 152 become - 0.7 ⁇ V than the electric potential of the reference electrode - Capacity discharged by the time the electric potential of the positive electrode 151 become - 0.5 ⁇ V than the electric potential of the reference electrode .
  • the discharge reserve capacity increased with time and, after six months, it increased to 5.6 Ah.
  • the charge reserve capacity ran short (the charge reserve capacity was -1.1 Ah), which may cause the safety valve to open if the battery is fully charged.
  • the leak rate of hydrogen gas is too small and hence it is difficult to suppress the lowering of battery characteristics for a long term.
  • charge reserve capacity Negative electrode capacity - Positive electrode capacity - Discharge reserve capacity .
  • the discharge reserve capacity decreased with time and, after six months, the discharge reserve capacity ran short and further decreased to - 0.5 Ah.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery was placed in a negative electrode regulation with reduced discharge capacity.
  • the discharge reserve capacity increased with time but remained at 4.1 Ah after six months.
  • the charge reserve capacity decreased but a charge reserve capacity of 0.4 Ah remained.
  • the discharge reserve capacity also increased with time but remained at 3.9 Ah after six months.
  • the charge reserve capacity decreased but a charge reserve capacity of 0.6 Ah remained.
  • the hydrogen leakage case 570 is made of metal (specifically, a nickel-plated steel plate) formed in a closed-end, substantially cylindrical shape.
  • This hydrogen leakage case 570 is formed with a through hole 574b in a top wall 574.
  • This hydrogen leakage case 570 is fixed on the outer surface 527 of the sealing cover 520 by laser welding at a position where the case 570 is axially aligned with the gas release hole 522.
  • the hydrogen permeable member 510 is made of hydrogen permeable rubber (specifically, EPDM) and has a closed-end, substantially cylindrical shape which conforms to an inner surface 570b of the hydrogen leakage case 570. This hydrogen permeable member 510 is fitted in the hydrogen leakage case 570 so that a sealing surface 515 is held in close contact with the outer surface 527 of the sealing cover 520.
  • the nickel-metal hydride storage battery 600 in Embodiment 6 has a case 602 including a sealing cover 620 and a battery casing 130, a valve member 610, and a retaining plate 640 as shown in Fig. 9 .
  • the sealing cover 620 has a recessed wall 621 providing a recess S formed inwardly toward the battery casing 130 relative to an outer surface 627.
  • This recessed wall 621 is of a substantially semi-cylindrical shape, including a recessed bottom 625 as the bottom of the recessed wall 621, a first side wall 623 connecting the recessed bottom 625 and the outer surface 627, and a second side wall 624 connecting the recessed bottom 625 and the outer surface 627 and opposite to the first side wall 623.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Gas Exhaust Devices For Batteries (AREA)
  • Secondary Cells (AREA)
  • Sealing Battery Cases Or Jackets (AREA)
EP05758113A 2004-07-02 2005-06-29 Nickel-metal hydride storage battery Ceased EP1764855B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2004196777A JP5034156B2 (ja) 2004-07-02 2004-07-02 ニッケル水素蓄電池
PCT/JP2005/012445 WO2006004145A1 (ja) 2004-07-02 2005-06-29 ニッケル水素蓄電池

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EP1764855A1 EP1764855A1 (en) 2007-03-21
EP1764855A4 EP1764855A4 (en) 2007-10-03
EP1764855B1 true EP1764855B1 (en) 2010-03-17

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JP (1) JP5034156B2 (ja)
KR (1) KR100800533B1 (ja)
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JP5228274B2 (ja) * 2005-12-27 2013-07-03 トヨタ自動車株式会社 ニッケル水素蓄電池
JP5269538B2 (ja) * 2008-09-30 2013-08-21 株式会社東芝 バッテリのガス排気構造
KR101075284B1 (ko) * 2008-12-05 2011-10-19 삼성에스디아이 주식회사 이차전지
KR101231676B1 (ko) * 2011-01-28 2013-02-08 주식회사 이엠따블유에너지 공기 금속 이차 전지 유닛 및 이를 포함하는 공기 금속 이차 전지 모듈
JP5572731B1 (ja) * 2013-03-22 2014-08-13 プライムアースＥｖエナジー株式会社 ニッケル水素蓄電池の調整方法
CN112952243B (zh) * 2020-11-16 2023-03-28 江苏时代新能源科技有限公司 端盖组件、电池单体及排气方法、电池及用电装置

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DE602005020006D1 (de) 2010-04-29
CN1977416A (zh) 2007-06-06
EP1764855A4 (en) 2007-10-03
WO2006004145A1 (ja) 2006-01-12
JP5034156B2 (ja) 2012-09-26
KR20070033456A (ko) 2007-03-26
CN100524930C (zh) 2009-08-05
JP2006019171A (ja) 2006-01-19
EP1764855A1 (en) 2007-03-21
KR100800533B1 (ko) 2008-02-04
US20080096096A1 (en) 2008-04-24
US7758994B2 (en) 2010-07-20

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